If you’re heading to Mexico soon for a much-needed relaxing vacation and to be closer to the unspoiled nature, the Mayan Riviera and its satellite islands of Isla Mujeres and Cozumel are the last place you want to be this winter:
Though they are undoubtedly beautiful, resort zones can get very crowded, and prices more often reflect the purchasing power of our fellow middle-income Americans than Mexican locals, proper––now, if it’s some unwinding you’re after, a more laid-back Holbox might be the right fit for you.
A tropical paradise off the mainland, 37 miles north of Cancun, it offers affordable hotels and quieter beaches, and it’s just been voted the best island in Mexico in a new Condé Nast Traveler survey:
Welcome To Holbox, Mexico’s Only Car-Free Island
At only 26 miles long, and an even-narrower 1.2 miles wide, Holbox is a nature preserve a short 25-minute ferry ride from the northern coast of Quintana Roo: with its pristine white-sand beaches, colorful coral reefs and thriving wildlife, it’s considered one of Mexico’s national treasures.
It has a permanent population of under 1,200 people, and compared to much larger, more touristy spots in the Mexican Caribbean, it’s as peaceful as can be: for instance, cars are not even allowed on the island, so there’s none of that chaotic Mexican traffic.
Holbox is somewhere you go for truly disconnecting, basking in the sun and engaging in a wide range of nature-based activities:
Just Look At All This Gorgeous, Unspoiled Tropical Nature
For starters, if you’ve always dreamt of being amidst the sea’s sharpest-toothed creatures––we can’t say that’s high on our list––you can swim with whale sharks, and top it off with a traditional lunch and some snorkeling (if it sounds like fun, you should check out this tour).
If, like us, you’re not enthusiastic about sharks or marine life, there’s still plenty to do and see around Holbox:
You can explore the island’s famous, lush mangrove forests, inhabited by the iconic pink flamingos and pelicans, or attempt nighttime paddle-boarding for $51.85.
Listen, we’re not great paddle-boarders either, let alone when it’s dark out, but there’s just no way you’re coming to Holbox and missing the bioluminescent show of the planktons in the surrounding seas––and the starlit skies above?
Just magical!
Postcard-Perfect Beaches
Now for the actual good stuff: what do those beaches look like?
As beautiful and litter-free as you can imagine for a compact paradise home to just over a thousand islanders, boasting white sands, teal-colored waters, and breathtaking blood-orange sunsets, Punta Cocos is the trendiest spot ‘in town’.
It features Holbox’s easily-recognized hammocks-on-water, and nearby Fuego Beach Club is serving delicious cocktails and fresh seafood every day from 8 am to 10 pm: no better way to spend the day on the island than sipping margaritas and gorging on fish ceviche with views of the ocean.
This beach is close to Holbox’s main tourist zone, so it can get moderately busy, especially with day-trippers coming from the mainland. If that’s a deterrent for you, remember Holbox is still 26 miles long, and there are plenty of alternative spots to pick from!
Think the North End beach, with its unruffled sands hugged by the bright-blue Gulf waters, the idyllic Playa Las Palmas, only accessible by bike or golf cart––12-hour rentals start from $69 at most hotels––and countless other secluded coves and patches of coast resortgoers often ignore.
Beachfront Stays From $45 A Night!
If you’re staying in Holbox overnight this winter, at the peak of the travel season, you can still find 4-star hotels for as cheap as $45 a night, such as in Mayan Mittoz, which let’s face it, it’s insanely affordable for the Mexican Caribbean, especially at this time of year.
200 meters from a beach, the charming Black Flamingo is just as affordable with Standard Double or Twin Rooms costing from $51 upward, and let’s not forget the rustic, full-of-character Casa del Viento, nestled in the lush jungle, from $69.
Naturally, there are far more expensive picks, from Palapas del Sol, with King Suites with oceanfront views listed for $241, to the ultra-glamorous, for-big-spenders-only Aldea Kuká, a luxury ‘eco’ boutique hotel where you’ll get set back by a whopping $793 a night this December.
But you know, it’s good that there’s a range of prices to accommodate all sorts of travelers with all sorts of travel preferences.
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